Is the Amazon Echo Show 5 worth it?
A top pick in Tools & DIY on Amazon (#3 when we checked, Oct 12, 2026)
Worth it if you want a compact Alexa screen for quick news and weather, video calls, compatible camera views, smart-home controls, music, and photos. The 5.5-inch display gives you useful visual information without taking much space.
Good to know: If you need a larger screen, stronger camera experience, or consistently fast responses, look for a larger or more specialized device.
A compact smart display that puts Alexa information in view
The Amazon Echo Show 5 makes Alexa more useful by adding a 5.5-inch screen to voice control. Instead of asking for the weather and listening for the answer, you can see weather, news, song titles, and other information at a glance. That matters when the device sits on a desk, bedside table, or kitchen counter and you want quick information without opening another screen.
The display also gives the Echo Show 5 jobs that a speaker cannot handle. You can make video calls with people who have the Alexa app or an Echo device with a screen, view compatible cameras, and check a compatible video doorbell. Smart lights and thermostats can also be controlled through Alexa, including while you are away. The built-in 2 MP camera supports calling and check-ins, while a camera shutter and microphone and camera off button give you direct privacy controls.
For everyday use, the main choice is whether these visual features earn space in your room. The listing also promises deeper bass and clearer vocals for music, podcasts, and shows, plus a rotating photo display when the screen is idle. It is a small device with several practical roles, not just a voice assistant with a clock.
You get a display, Alexa controls, video calling, camera viewing, music and show streaming, photo display, and smart-home control in one compact device. That can replace several small daily check-ins with one screen and voice interface.
Great for
- Small bedside tables, desks, or kitchen counters
- People who want weather, news, and song details at a glance
- Alexa users who want video calls and compatible camera views
- Homes with compatible lights, thermostats, or video doorbells
- Anyone who wants a rotating photo display in an idle screen
Maybe not for you if
- You need a larger screen for extended viewing
- You want a device focused mainly on high-quality video calls
- You need consistently quick responses for every interaction
The Echo Show 5 suits buyers who want Alexa information visible, not just spoken, and who will use video calls, compatible camera views, smart-home controls, music, or photo display. Its compact screen is useful where space is limited, and the camera shutter plus microphone and camera off button provide straightforward privacy controls. Choose something larger if screen size is your priority, but for a small bedside, desk, or counter device, the Echo Show 5 offers a practical mix of features in one place.
Amazon shoppers rate it 4.2 out of 5 across 72,820 ratings. That is their number, not ours.
Quick answers before you buy
How large is the Echo Show 5 screen?
The Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch display. It shows news, weather, song titles, photos, shows, and other compatible visual information.
Can it control smart-home devices?
Yes. It can control compatible devices such as lights and thermostats through Alexa, including while you are away.
Can I make video calls with it?
Yes. The built-in 2 MP camera supports calls with people who have the Alexa app or an Echo device with a screen.
Does it have camera and microphone privacy controls?
Yes. It includes a built-in camera shutter and a button that turns off the microphone and camera.
Can it display personal photos?
Yes. You can set the background to a rotating slideshow, and friends and family can share photos to the Echo Show 5.
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